Fathers Day Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again where all the fathers are recognised. To help you with choosing the best tech gadgets for your Dad, here is a list of what we think are the best gifts that you can buy for your father.

If something here doesn’t suit your (or his) needs then check out the following stores for great gadget ideas for men.

BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres

Because BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres are really that cool. You can build basic shapes, complex sculptures, magnetic jewelry, or even outfit your refrigerator in bold and unique ways. Just look at all the shapes and forms you can make with these bad boys – it’s amazing! BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres are just what you need to help you brave the boredom of the office. And really, when else will you get to play with your BuckyBalls at work and not get in trouble?

Available from ThinkGeek costing $24.99.

Muvi Micro DV Cam Kit

The Muvi Micro DV Cam is the smallest DV camera in the world. It’s hard to know what else to say to that – it really is tiny. You can pop it in your top pocket, switch it on to sound activated record and not only will it be discreet, it won’t start recording until it hears over 65 decibels of noise. As soon as it goes quiet for longer than 2 minutes it will save the movie file and switch off again to save power.

Available from IWOOT costing £79.99.

FreeLoader Solar Charger

Running out of juice when you’re chatting on your phone, battling aliens on your PSP or listening to your iPod is one of the most annoying things known to mankind. Well it’s not, but it’s irritating nonetheless. Thankfully portable gizmos are rechargeable, so you merely plug them into the nearest socket and wait.

But what do you do when you’re nowhere near a power source? Well it just so happens that, unless you’re reading this from the Planet Onderon, you’re always near a power source: the sun.

Available from Firebox costing $49.95.

USB Cup Warmer

Why is it that a really good cuppa always seems to cool at 10 times the normal rate when you’re working at your computer, it’s really very annoying. Well at last there’s a suitably techie solution in the USB cup warmer. Simply plug this little gadget into your USB port, pop your cuppa on the hot plate, and it’ll extend your drinking time by up to 30 minutes – bliss.

Available from IWOOT costing $14.

USB Negative Scanner

The great thing about old 35mm photos is that most of us have them ‘backed up’ on negatives stuffed in forgotten drawers. The bad thing, however, is that most of us can’t remember what’s on the negatives until we hold them up to the light and squint. And even then it’s hard to tell. Enter the truly ingenious USB Negative Scanner.

Available from Firebox costing $99.95.

AntWorks – Space Age Ant Habitat

Fascinating creatures ants. Sure you hate to see them in your socks or making a B-line for that pizza crust crumb you forgot to sweep up at the local LAN party. But let’s give credit where credit is due. Ants are amazing. Ants can lift up to 20x their body weight! They have two stomachs and three eyes! They also have uncanny communication skills and amazing abilities to work together to achieve a common goal.

Available from ThinkGeek costing $29.99.

The Only Stainless Steel Wallet

Woven using 25,000 stainless steel threads that are three times thinner than a piece of paper –.001″–this is the only wallet with a hand as smooth as silk and the strength that surpasses leather. Impervious to stretching or staining, and without sharp corners or the inherent bulk of other wallets…

Available from Hammacher costing $89.95.

Voice Activated R2-D2

This motorized replica of the headstrong little “droid” from the iconic Star Wars films responds to voice commands, navigates rooms and hallways, and makes any home feel like it has been transported to a galaxy far, far away (play the video.) R2 obeys more than 40 voice commands (”Turn around!” “Move forward two units!”) and he plays games like tag, using an infrared sensor to search for people in a room.

Available from Hammacher costing $169.95.

Auto LED

It’s just big enough to sit in your cigarette lighter and trickle charge off of your car’s electrical system. All the while, emitting a soft blue glow. When you need a quick light to highlight that road map, or to track down that errant french-fry that fell beneath the seat (just let it go, man), this little guy is Johnny-on-the-spot.